Project Vinca
Securing vulnerable nuclear weapons materials
Project Vinca, a collaborative effort between governments, NTI, and the private sector, successfully removed 100 pounds of vulnerable highly enriched uranium from a poorly secured research reactor outside of Belgrade.
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The Vinca nuclear research reactor, where NTI acted to catalyze the removal of two and a half bombs’ worth of HEU.
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IAEA inspector visiting the Vinca nuclear research reactor to inspect the spent fuel. In 2002, NTI gave $5 million to help catalyze the removal of highly enriched uranium to a more secure location.
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IAEA inspectors visiting the Vinca nuclear research reactor to inspect the spent fuel. In 2002, NTI gave $5 million to help catalyze the removal of highly enriched uranium to a more secure location.
In 2002, more than two and a half bombs’ worth of highly enriched uranium (HEU) was stored in a civilian research reactor with inadequate security in Vinca, Serbia, near Belgrade, vulnerable to theft by terrorists. U.S. officials wanted the material protected and turned to NTI for help.
NTI worked closely with the U.S. Department of State, the IAEA, Russia and Serbia to facilitate the transfer of more than 100 pounds of weapons-usable nuclear material in the form of fresh reactor fuel to more secure storage in Russia for elimination through blend down. NTI’s contribution of $5 million also supported the repackaging and removal of 2.4 tons of highly radioactive spent reactor fuel for ultimate transport and disposition in Russia. The decommissioning of the reactor also was achieved through the project.
News of the operation on the front page of The Washington Post brought fresh attention to the threat, spurring the U.S. Government to create the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI), which has since repatriated more than 40 nuclear bombs’ worth of HEU from dozens of countries.
NTI Co-Chairman Ted Turner called Project Vinca “an example of how governments, the private sector, and international organizations can work together to find innovative and effective solutions to make the world safer.”
The project also left a proud legacy of more collaborative cleanout efforts in Romania, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, and the Czech Republic. In addition, the U.S., Russia, and the IAEA developed a schedule where by all Soviet-origin fresh HEU will be returned to Russia.
Partner Organizations
International Atomic Energy Agency
The IAEA is the world's center of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up in 1957 as the world's "Atoms for Peace" organization within the United Nations family.
Related Expert
Charles B. Curtis
Charles B. Curtis served for nine years as president and CEO of NTI. Earlier, he served as executive vice president and COO of the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and was a partner in Hogan & Hartson, a Washington-based law firm.
Understanding
the Nuclear Threat
Reducing the risk of nuclear use by terrorists and nation-states requires a broad set of complementary strategies targeted at reducing state reliance on nuclear weapons, stemming the demand for nuclear weapons and denying organizations or states access to the essential nuclear materials, technologies and know-how.
In Depth
Country Profile
Former Yugoslavia
This article provides an overview of the Former Yugoslavia’s historical and current policies relating to nuclear, chemical, biological and missile proliferation.
